Ep—1
The cold breeze was surrounding the dark streets while the vehicles slowly faded into the thick darkness of the night as time flew by. The van drove in as the people looked at it before whispers echoed around the apartments while it stopped by the street alley–a corner which takes the path towards the dark forest. As the van was parked aside, the truck was parked right behind it. The neighbors walked past the van as they took a peeking–glance of a girl inside the truck. Her hair was deep-brown which was long till her thighs. Her closed eyes clenched together while the cold breeze kissed her pale skin without hesitation. Her hand removed the hair that was sticking to her face. Her eyes blinked before the door of the truck was pushed open. The van doors opened as a woman stepped out. As the girl stepped out, her fingers tangled in her hair while she pulled the long hair into a messy bun. As she bit onto the scrunchie, her mother turned towards her direction. "Na-bi ah" her front locks which are 8preventing everyone from seeing her face–flew aside. Her eyes weren't the cutest but cold yet kind enough. A nod, her little–veiny fingers pushed up the sleeves of her jacket while her steps towards his mother fastened with a slight gaze towards the driver who was removing the heavy boxes out of the trunk of the van. "It's fine, Uncle! I can." Her kind tone startled the driver as her mom walked inside the small building. A smile appeared on his face as he handed her the box. "I'll carry out some while you go up, okay?" as he spoke out, she bowed with hesitance. Her eyes fell upon the guys whose hands were busy with heavy furniture. She sighed as the young guy stood there while instructing the workers directions upon the way to their flat. As he glanced at her, her eyes signaled him to put down the boxes which he denied with a grin. "You're still a kid, Na-bi! They're heavy." as he ruffled her hair while holding the heavy box in one hand, which made her clench her eyes close feeling the hair falling apart from the messy bun she tied. "Ah, seriously…" she sighed as her hands held the box tight walking towards the entrance of the building. It wasn't a big apartment but big enough for the small families to live in. The 10 floors of the building were classic and neat as they stepped out of lift sighing aloud. "9th floor?" he looked at her with a disbelieving expression. She grinned, "yeah, it's good?" she asked as he chuckled. "Hm, better than last one i guess" he ruffled her already messy hair making her freeze there for a min closing her eyes tight. She shook her head aside, making her hair move away from her face. She stepped forward behind him as he turned his head before smiling at her which was returned by her kindly. Her hands kept the boxes inside the living room, which made her sigh aloud until her mom walked out. "The kitchen was kind of tight, wasn't it?" she spoke as the young guy's eyes shot up towards the women before they were moved to look at Na-bi who was on one knee of hers. Her hands removed the plaster before opening the box. He sighed as an exhale before hesitantly nodded at the women. She glanced at the girl which made his eyes land on Na-bi with the hesitance within his actions. Her eyes stuck to the box as she sat on her knees. Something told him she knew what she was doing all along. Often, he noticed but now, he was confirmed. As the woman left the living room, her eyes blinked, taking out the books from the box she opened. As she stood up, her eyes glanced at the guy before a smile was shared between them. An exhale, her cheeks have lifted up along with the smile that stretched out on her face.
The hour has passed as the workers placed everything inside the new house. Her hands shivering due to the cold breeze brushing past her skin. The windows were wide open and she couldn't help but feel relieved that it was a cold night instead of the warm—windy—one. "Na-bi!" his loud voice made her snap out of her thoughts as her body which was leaning against the window has moved towards the main door. "Yes?" her fingers pushed the hair locks behind her ear as she looked up hesitantly. He hesitated as he tried to speak out until his eyes averted towards the women who stood there leaning against the bedroom's door. "It's..about payment…" he mumbled hesitantly as a confused frown appeared on her face. "Payment? Haven't mom paid-" her words paused as her hand slowly clutched her pants. Her eyes hesitantly blinked as her mom spoke. "I have no money, Na-bi. How should I pay?" she said, shrugging her shoulders as the girl closed her eyes. The frustration was building up in her body as she took out the pair of cash before handing it to the guy. "I'm really sorry for…" her polite bow stopped him from talking one more word. "Thank you for shifting the furniture without a scratch" she said as he hesitantly bowed. "Yes yes, haha" he spoke out nervously before walking out of the house.
The door was closed gently as her fingers twisted the knob to prevent the door from opening. As the ding echoed indicating the door was closed, her eyes looked up slowly from the knob. Her back was shivered within the chills that ran down her spine. As the women walked out of the bedroom, na-bi's eyes went cold. No emotions were held as she turned around. Her fingers held the collar as she took off the jacket. Her eyes blinked as she unbuttoned her sleeves of another shrug she wore. The stares digging holes into her soul which were not admirable yet not the normal. "There's no vegetables to cook '' Her voice was thin like a sharp knife as she froze where she stood—in front of the door of her bedroom. As a sigh left her lips, she wore back the jacket. "Money-" her mumble was cutted off by her mother's voice which wasn't as kind as it was a while ago. "I think you have it in your pocket…?" her eyes piercing holes into her as she hesitantly checked her pockets. As she found the money that had left, she looked up at the mom before nodding. "Is that…all?" she mumbled as the women did not respond. Her eyes glanced up when she felt her hair being adjusted front. Na-bi's hands trembled as the woman smiled at her while eyeing her body up and down. "Your chest…" her words paused as Na-bi's eyes blinked while she looked away. Her hands slowly clutched her jacket as the woman completed her sentence "You grew up fast…, Na-bi." As her hair fell front covering her sides, the woman eyed her body which made shivers run down Na-bi's spine feeling the cold sweat forming on her forehead. "Cover them" her voice sounded more of—demanding than a pinch of kind tone she added. As Na-bi walked out of the house within the hurry steps she took, her breath heaved up. Her back against the wall—that was beside stairs, she looked down as tears slowly formed in her eyes. Her eyes landed on her chest, where her sight showed the piece of jacket she wore. Her hand clutched the phone she had been holding all this time. Knuckles turned pale as she stepped down the stairs. Her hand wiping the sweat that coated her skin. As she felt the presence of someone climbing up the stairs, her fingers raised the phone front, tapping the pin code with impatience building up inside. As she was bumped onto someone, her head raised to look at. "O-oh sorry, are you okay?" she nodded hesitantly as she tried to walk past the man who was in his mid forties. His smile was gentle as his hand gently laid upon her back. "Your name.. Na-bi, am I right…?" he spoke as she nodded looking at him for a second. "Ah, Knew it haha. I am Min-Hyung." she bowed as she realized he was none other than the owner of the apartment they shiften in. "it was.. 903 isn't it? My mind lost count" he laughed weakly as she smiled. "Yes, uncle. It was 903.." she said as he nodded. "Alright, where are you going with that much cash in your hand…?" she looked down at her hand before looking up. "Oh it's just… vegetables'' she mumbled as he hummed in response. "You know the way?" she blinked. Her hands were sweating in nervousness as he sensed her realisation—which is that she doesn't know. A laugh escaped his lips as he patted her back. "Ah, kids these days. Take the left lane over the right side street. Then, turn over to the right corner. There you will be able to, okay?" he instructed as she nodded to every word he spoke. "Alright, then. I'll get going" he said as she bowed. "Thank you" she stuttered between her words as she bit her lip in embarrassment right away turning her back—-walking down the stairs. The man smiled as he walked upstairs chuckling.
As the cold breeze blew passing by, her hands were pushed into the pockets of the jeans she wore. Hoarse sighs leave her shivering lips as her eyes glued to the floor. The closer she got towards the lane, the darker it got. Her hands clenched, still inside the pockets. Her eyes were cold as her hair ruffled making her sigh in annoyance. "Motherfuxking- nghh Leave me alone!" her body froze as she heard the voice echoing before her steps resumed towards the corner within the fear that started to build in her.. As she walked in, her eyes glanced up only to feel her body flinch within the punches echoed aloud. Her eyes widening as the guy groaned in pain while his veiny hand was dug into his face while the punches got deeper than it was a while ago. A gulp took place in her dry throat as her body moved on its own. Her eyes glued to the surface she was walking on—which was the rough surfaced floor that was called none other than the road. The smoke that left his lips made her breath it in while he looked aside towards her. Her hair was falling over the sides of her face as her face was hard to be visible—especially from how he stood far from her already fast-walking posture. His hands upon the wall– blocking either side of the guy that got beaten, the cigarette that was lingering at the corner of his lips was slowly gripped by his fingers which were obviously covered with the blood of the guy he had just beaten. His body turned towards her as he breathed out the smoke, watching her walk away. A snickering smile slowly formed on his lips as his eyes met her eyes which glanced back at his posture. His eyes dug holes into her soul as she felt the electric chills going down her spine. As she stepped inside the store, her eyes captured him for the last time.. As he took another puff of smoke, his back turned. Another punch echoed as the screams got louder.
Her eyes blinked in confusion as she sighed after. The chills she got a while ago still lingered on her body as she felt her face cold and sweating like she ran miles away. As she glanced at the cash counter, she bowed with hesitance. "Where are the.. Vegetables?" she mumbled as the girl pointed towards the left. Na-bi nodded, giving out a gentle smile. "Thank you" she politely spoke as the girl bowed back. Her hands took out the phone as she bit her lip looking around the session—searching what to take.